But as we get drunk and rowdy, giving bad name to a holy-day, a saint, and in some cases, a school, how much do we know about St. Patrick.

Did you know:

St. Patrick was one of the world’s most popular saints

He was born at Kilpatrick, near Dumbarton, in Scotland, in the year 387

As a boy of fourteen or so, he was captured during a raiding party and taken to Ireland as a slave to herd and tend sheep.

During his captivity, he turned to God in prayer

Patrick’s captivity lasted until he was twenty, when he escaped after having a dream from God in which he was told to leave Ireland by going to the coast. There he found some sailors who took him back to Britain, where he reunited with his family.

He had another dream in which the people of Ireland were calling out to him “We beg you, holy youth, to come and walk among us once more.”

He began his studies for the priesthood.

Later, Patrick was ordained a bishop, and was sent to take the Gospel to Ireland. Patrick began preaching the Gospel throughout Ireland, converting many. Patrick preached and converted all of Ireland for 40 years. He worked many miracles and wrote of his love for God in Confessions. After years of living in poverty, traveling and enduring much suffering he died March 17, 461.

And the shamrock?

Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Trinity, and has been associated with him and the Irish since that time.

Saint Patrick was a humble, pious, gentle man, whose love and total devotion to and trust in God should be a shining example to each of us. He feared nothing, not even death, so complete was his trust in God, and of the importance of his mission.

You can read a bit more about Dublin, Irelandhere and more about Saint Patrickhere.

And I’ll leave you on this lovely day with a beautiful song with a Celtic beat and a biblical story. Take a moment to listen. The story, the artist, the conviction. It’s just warming.